Wire-fence-making machine.



G. H. COCKS.

WIRE FENCE MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1914.

1,1 30,570. Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SKEET l 546 J] I I Witn e s Zes J1 J7 r,

I by

Attorneys HE NORRIS PETERS C04. PHOTD-LITHQ. WASHINGION. D. c.

G. H. COOKS.

WIRE FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 18. 1914.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Attorneys NORRIS PETERS 70. PHOTOVLITHON WASH/W D APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1914. 1,1 30,570. Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Inventor,

Witnesses Attorneys,

THE NORRIS PETERS c0 PHOTO G. H. COOKS.

WIRE FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 18, 1914.

1,1 30,570. Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETS SHBBT 4 -[14 witnesssf Inventor,

Attorneys,

THE NORRIS PETERS Ca, PHOTO-LITHOY. WASHING I'ON D.

GEORGE HOLMES COCKS, OF ASHLAND, KENTUCKY.

WIRE-FENGE-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

Application filed June 18, 1914. Serial No. 845,912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnoaon H. COCKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Asliland, in the county of Boyd and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful \Vire-Fence-Making Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a machine of that general type which is employed for connecting the longitudinal and cross wires of a fence by means of staples.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of spacing mechanism, whereby the longitudinal wires of the fence are advanced, positively, by predetermined steps, to receive the cross wires, the construction being such that it is unnecessary to alter the gear train which is connected with the roller which ultimately receives the completed fabric, as the diameter of the roll of fabric on the roller increases.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel mechanism whereby the means for cutting the cross wires to a predetermined length is actuated.

It is within the scope of the invention to improve the staple forming mechanism.

The invention aims to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

\Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

in the accompanying drawings r-Figure 1 shows one form of the invention in top plan, unnecessary parts being omitted; Fig. 2 is a. side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away; Fig. 3 is a sectional detail showing the mechanism whereby one of the drums is controlled; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of the adjustable spacing frame; Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine; Fig.6 is a side elevation of the mechanism whereby the staples are formed, advanced and clenched; F1g.7 is an elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 6, the view point in Fig. 7 being 90 remote from the View point in Fig. 6, and parts being shown in section; Fig. 8 is an elevation showing one of the gear trains.

The supporting structure wherein the movable parts of the device are carried comprises a suitable base 1 supporting side lates 2 and 3. Fixed to and upstanding rom the base 1 adjacent the side plate 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, is a standard 4. In the standard 4 and in a bearing 5 on the side plate 3 is journaled for rotation a stub shaft 6 provided with pulleys 7 or their mechanical equivalents, whereby the stub shaft may be actuated from a prime mover. Fixed to the stub shaft 6 is a pinion 8 meshing into a gear wheel 9 secured to a main shaft 10 journaled in the side plates 2 and 3 of the machine frame. On one end of the main shaft 10 there is a crank 11 and mounted to slide in the crank 11 longitudinally thereof is a support 12, the position of which is adjusted by means of a screw 14 journaled in the crank 11. The support 12 carries a wrist pin 15 upholding one end of a connecting rod 16, the other end of which is supported upon a wrist pin 17 carried by a clutch drum 18 journaled for rotation on a shaft 19 which in its turn is journaled in the side plates 2 and 3. The clutch drum 18, carries, as shown in Fig. 2, a pawl 20 constrained by a spring 21 to engage a ratchet wheel 22 which is fixed to the shaft 19. Measuring wheels 23 of any desired construction are fixed to the shaft 19 and lie between the side plates 2 and 3. Fixed to the shaft 19 is a gear wheel 24 meshing into a gear wheel 25 carried by a shaft 26 supported for rotation in bearings 27 on the side plates 2 and 3. Inside the plate 2 the shaft 26 carries a gear wheel 500. The gear wheel 500 meshes into a gear wheel 28 rotatable on a shaft 29 journaled as indicated at 30 in the side plates 2 and 3. J ournaled on the shaft 29 is a drum 31 upon which the completed fence fabric accumulates.

Left-hand threaded onto the shaft 29 a shown in Fig. 3 is a nut 32, the nut having projections 33, any one of which may be engaged by a finger 34 formed upon one end of an actuating member 35 preferably in the form of a rod. The actuating member 35 is mounted to reciprocate in a guide 37 on the side plate and passes through an opening 501 formed in an offset portion 502 of the side plate 2. The actuating rod 35 is terminally provided with an operating handle 38. In the lower edge of the actuating rod 35 notches 39 are formed, any one of which may be engaged with a pin 40 projecting from the side plate 2, the pin and the notch, obviously constituting means for holding the rod in adjusted positions relative to its length.

The nut 32 engages a beveled clutch disk 503 adapted to cooperate with the beveled rim of the gear wheel 28. Interposed between the gear wheel 28 and the end of the drum 31 is a friction plate 504. A bearing 505 is carried by the side plate 2 and is provided with a head 506. A ratchet wheel 507 is secured to the end of the shaft 29 and rollers 508 cooperate with the ratchet wheel 507 and the projecting flange of the head 506 to limit the rotation of the shaft in one direction. After the completed fence fabric has accumulated on the drum 31, the latter, together with the shaft 29 and the ratchet wheel 28 may be removed from the frame.

Journaled in bearings 41 on the side plates 2 and 3 is a guide roller 42 cooperating with a guide roller 43 held in movable bearings 44, the positions of the bearings 44 being altered by means of adjusting devices 45. Journaled adjacent the bottom of the structure are idlers 46 carried by a shaft 36 terminally supported in the side plates 2 and 3.

A plurality of wires which form the longitudinal strands of the fence and indicated at 47, are given a turn around the measuring wheels From the measuring wheels 23, the wires 47 are passed around the idlers 46 and thence pass upwardly between the guide rollers 42 and 43, the wires 47, after the cross wires have been assembled therewith, being received upon the drum 31.

Rotation is imparted to the stub shaft 6 by means of the pulleys 7 and from the stub shaft 0 motion is transmitted to the main shaft 10 through the medium of the pinion 8 and the gear wheel 9. \Vhen the main shaft 10 is rotated, the crank 11 will actuate the connecting rod 16, the latter causing the clutch drum 18 to rock to and fro on the shaft 19. lVhen the clutch drum 18 rotates in one direction, motion will be transmitted to the shaft 19 and the measuring wheels 23 through the medium of the pawl 20 an dthe ratchet wheel 22 on the shaft 19. When the drum 18 moves in an opposite direction, the pawl 20 will slip idly over the ratchet wheel 22 and the shaft 19 together with the measuring Wheels 23 will not be rotated. It is during this time that the cross ties are applied to and stapled upon the longitudinal wires 47 of the fence fabric.

From the shaft 19 motion is transmitted to the drum 31 by means of a gear train comprising the wheels 24, 25, 500 and 28. It is to be observed that the drum 31 remains at rest while the clutch drum 18 is moving in one direction and while the pawl 20 is clicking idly over the ratchet wheel 22.

The distance from the wrist pin 17 to the center of the shaft 19 is equal to the distance from the center of the shaft 19 to the peripheries of the measuring wheels 23. Thus, the amount of rim travel in the measuring wheel 23 will be equal to the travel of the wrist pin 17. If the wrist pin 17 is eight inches from the center of the shaft 19 and if by means of the screw 14 the support 12 is so adjusted that the wrist pin 15 thereon is four inches from the center of the shaft 10, then at each reciprocation of the connecting rod 16, eight inches will be turned off the longitudinal wires 47. Obviously, the throw of the crank 11 may be varied by adjusting the position of the support 12 through the instrumentality of the screw 14.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a positive means has been provided for advancing the wires 47, step-by-step, and 1t 1s now to be noted that as the completed fabric is wound upon the drum 31, no

change in the gear train represented by the elements 24, 25, 500, and 28 is necessary. The drum 31 may be permitted to slip to a greater or less extent on the shaft 29, the slippage of the drum being regulated by the pressure with which the plate 504 bears against the end of the drum. This pressure of the plate 504 against the end of the drum 31 may be regulated at any time by shifting the position of the actuating member or rod 35 so that its finger 34 engages one of the projections 33 on the nut 32 and holds the nut 32 against rotation so that the nut moves longitudinally on the shaft 29 with respect to the drum 31, thereby exerting a greater or less pressure upon the end of the drum.

The wire which forms the transverse strands of the fence is fed into the machine, transversely thereof in any suitable manner, the means for accomplishing this end constituting no part of the present invention. As the transverse wire is fed into the machine, it is cut off into lengths by a cutting mechanism of any desired form and this cutting mechanism, also, forms no part of the present invention, so far as the actual cutting mechanism is concerned. A novel means, however, is provided for actuating the cutting mechanism, whatever be its form. Mounted to swing on the cutting shaft 68 is a lever 69 to which is pivoted a pawl 70,

Cal

shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the pawl being adapted to cooperate with a ratchet wheel 67 and to rotate the shaft 68, the shaft constituting part of the mechanism whereby the transverse wires of the fence are cut to predetermined lengths. Pivoted to the lever 69 is a link 71 pivoted to a shoe 72 formed on a relatively small pinion 73 journaled on a stud 74 in the machine frame. The shoe 72 is adapted to coact with one edge of a disk journaled on the machine frame, the disk 75 carrying a continuous gear 76 and a half gear 77. The half gear 77 meshes into the pinion 73 and the continuous gear 76 meshes into an idle gear wheel 78 journaled on the machine frame, the idle gear 78 meshing into a larger gear wheel 79 secured to the main driving shaft 10. It will now be understood that the main shaft 10 is operatively connected with the shaft 68 through a gear train comprising the gear wheel 79, the gear wheel 78, the continuous gear 76, the half gear 77, the pinion 73, the link 71, the lever 69, the pawl 70 and the ratchet wheel 67. Owing to the presence of the half gear 77 in the train, the shaft 68 will be intermittently rotated when the shaft 10 is continuously rotated. The function of the shoe 72, engaging the edge of the disk 75 is to prevent the pinion 7 3 from rotating or oscillating accidentally when the teeth thereon are cut out of mesh with the half gear 77.

The transverse wires, having been cut to a predetermined length, pass from a hopper 65 shown in Fig. 5 into the constricted chute 66, and after passing from the chute 66, the cross wires are stapled onto the longitudinal wires, by a mechanism which will now be described in detail. Noting Fig. 5 it will be observed that a back table 48 is mounted to reciprocate upon the machine frame in any desired manner, guides 49 in the present instance being provided to support the back table 48 slidably. A link 50 is pivoted to the back table 48 and is pivoted as shown at 51 to the intermediate portion of a lever 52 extended longitudinally of the machine, the lever at one end carrying a roller 53 adapted to cotiperate with a cam 54 se cured to the main guide shaft 10. The lever 52 is fulcrumed as at 55 upon a bolt 56 passing through a lug 57 on the machine frame and held therein adjustably by means of nuts 58.

It will now be understood that when the shaft 10 is rotated, the lever 52 will be tilted through the medium of the cam 54, the lever imparting a reciprocating movement to the back table 48 through the instrumentality of the link 50, it being possible to define the ultimate positions of the table 48 by adjusting the bolt 56 in the lug 57 by means of the nuts 58.

The invention includes a fixed center table 59 held in any suitable manner upon the machine frame,

The invention further includes a front table 60 mounted to slide upon the machine frame. In order to actuate the movable front table 60, an eccentric 61 is mounted on the main drive shaft 10 as shown in Fig. 2. About the eccentric 61 is extended a strap 62 united by means of a longitudinally adjustable connection 63 with the movable front table 60.

When the shaft 10 is rotated, motion will be transmitted to the table 60 through the medium of the eccentric 61, the strap 62 and the longitudinally adjustable connection 63, the latter being pivoted as shown at 64 to the front table.

As shown best in Fig. 6, a support in the form of a block is dovetailed onto the fixed center table 59 and is held thereon by means of a set screw 81. The support 80 includes an arm 82 extended transversely of the machine and inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees to the horizontal. It is to be understood that there is one of these arms 82 and attendant parts for each of the measuring wheels 23, that is, for each of the longitudinal strands of the fence. Mounted in the arm 82 is a stub shaft 83 on which is journaled a feed Wheel 84 having a pawl 86 adapted to coact with a ratchet carried by a pinion 87 journaled on the stub shaft. The pinion 87 coacts with a slidably mounted rack bar 88 having a slot 89 receiving a stud 90 which enters the slidably mounted front table 60. Mounted in the fixed arm 82 is a pivot bolt 91 supporting an inclined arm 92 provided adjacent its edge with a lug 93 receiving one end of a screw 94 passing through a lug 95 on the arm 92. A wing-nut 96 is threaded onto the screw 94 and a compression spring 97 is interposed between the wingnut and the lug 95. Mounted on the arm 92 are a plurality of straightening wheels 98 coacting with other straightening wheels 99. The wire from which the staples are made is indicated by the reference character 119, the wire 119 passing through an eye 120 on the upper end of the arm 92 and passing thence between the wheels 98 and 99. The wheels 99 may be adjusted toward and away from the wheels 98 through the medium of screws 100. J ournaled on the arm 92 is a feed wheel 101 which coacts with the feed wheel 84. This feed wheel 101 is operatively connected by means of a pawl and ratchet mechanism like 8586, with a gear wheel 600 which meshes with the pinion 87, but not with the rack 88.

WVhen the feed wheel 84 is rotated in a manner to be described hereinafter, this wheel, coacting with the feed wheel 101, advances the wire 119 out of which the staples are made, until the wire in question abuts against a stop 102 which may be mounted on the support 80. Mounted on the arm 82 is a knife 103 through which the wire 119 passes.

Attached as shown at 104 to the movable fronttable 60 is a former 105. One end 106 of the former coacts with the knife 103 to shear off the length of the wire 119 after the latter has been brought into abutment with the stop 102. In the end of the former 105 is formed a recess 107 at the base of which is fashioned a notch 108. The end of one arm of the former 105 and the inner wall of the recess 107 are grooved as shown at 109 to receive the Wire while the same is being formed into a staple. The former 105 reciprocates beneath a cover plate 110 connected with the arm 82 as shown at 111. Projecting from the plate 110 into the notch 108 in the former is a projection or pin 112.

Attached to the movable front table 60 is a plunger 114 which is located below the former 105. Attached to the member 80 is a shaper 115 adapted to co iperate with the recess 107 in the former 105 and to aid in forming the staple, the shaper, if desired, being held in place by means of a set screw 116. Mounted upon the element 80 which it is to be recalled is carried by the fiXed center table 59 is a die 117 adapted to coiiperate with a movable die 118 connected to the movable table 48.

Supposing that through the medium of the screws 100, the wheels 98 and 99 have been brought into coiiperation and that through the medium of the wing nut 96 the feed wheels 84 and 101 have been made to coiiperate properly, it will be obvious that when the movable table 60 has been actuated in the direction of the arrow A, the rack bar 88 coacting with the pinion 87 will through the medium of the pawl 86 and the ratchet wheel 85 actuate the feed wheel 84, the latter coacting with the feed wheel 101 to advance the staple forming wire 119 against the stop 102, the wheel 101 being actuated through the medium of the intermeshing pinions 600 and 87 and the pawl and ratchet mechanism which opcratively connects the feed wheel 101 and the pinion 600. Then, as the table 60 moves in the direction ofthe arrow B, the part 106 of the former 105, coacting with the knife 103 will cut off a length of wire sufficient to form a staple. Then, as the table 60 continues to move in the direction of the arrow B, the shaper 115 will enter the recess 107 in the former and bend the severed length of wire into staple shape. Then, as the table 60 and the former 105 are moved in the direction of the arrow A, the former will be pulled off the staple, the staple being restrained against moving along with the former, owing to the fact that the bend of the staple is engaged with the pin 112 in the fixed cover plate 110. As [the former 105 is retracted in the direction of the arrow A, the staple first drops down on top of the plunger 114 and when the plunger 114 is retracted sufficiently, the staple drops in front of the plunger. hen the table 60 and the plunger 114 move in the direction of the arrow B, the staple is crowded ahead against the die 118 which is moved in the direction of the arrow A by the table 48, the latter being actuated by the parts 54, 52 and 50, shown in Fig. 5. The ends of the staple, by the action of the movable die 118 on the table 48 are brought back against the fixed die 117, and thus the staple is clenched around the longitudinal wires and the cross wires at their point of intersection. The edge 54 of the cam 54 is so shaped that the table 48 remains at rest while the roller 53 is traversing the edge 54*. It is during this time that the table 60 and attendant parts carry out the stapling operation.

Owing to the fact that the feed wheel 84 is operatively connected with the pinion 87 through the medium of the ratchet wheel 85 and the pawl 86, the wire 119 is not fed backwardly when the rack bar 88 moves in the direction of the arrow B.

The former 105 must be retracted out of the way of the wire 119 before the latter is fed against the stop 102. It is to accomplish this result that the slot 89 is formed in the rack bar 88. \Vhen the table 60 moves in the directicn of the arrow A, the former 105 will at once be retracted out of the path of the wire 119, but the rack bar 88 will not be actuated immediately to rotate the feed wheel 84, because, referring to Fig. 6, the stud 90 on the table 60 must arrive at the left hand end of the slot 89 in the rack bar 88 before the latter can be actuated. The feed wheel 84, therefore, will not be rendered operative to advance the wire 119 until the former 105 has been retracted sufiiciently to be out of the path of the wire.

The operation of the structure has been dealt with hereinbefore in connection with the various component mechanisms but, generally stated, is as follows: The longitudinal wires are advanced by predetermined steps through the medium of a mechanism comprising the shaft 10, the crank 11, the connecting rod 16, the clutch drum 18, the ratchet wheel 22, the shaft 19 and the measuring wheels Vhen the shaft 19 is at rest, that is, while the pawl 20 is clicking idly over the ratchet wheel 22, the cross wires are stapled onto the longitudinal wires. The cutting mechanism for fashioning the cross wires embodies the gear wheel 79 on the shaft 10, the idle gear 78, the con tinuous gear 76, the half gear 77, the pinion 73, the link 71, the lever 69, the pawl and the ratchet wheel 67, an intermittent motion thus being imparted to the cutting shaft 68 through the continuously driven main shaft 10. The front table is driven by the eccentric 61 on the main shaft 1Q, the eccentric Strep end the lqhgitu ually djusta element 63 which is pivoted at 64; to the movable table 60. The movable rear table 48 is actuated by means of the cam 5,4 on the shaft 10, the lever 52 and the link 5Q. The rack bar 88 actuates the feed, wheel 84 and this Wheel, cooperating with the wheel 101 advances the wire 119 against the stop 102. The former 105, cooperating With the ni 3 fi t Cuts. tt a length qt Wire f em the st an 1 9 n t en, et pe at s i h the shaper 115, fashions this length of Wire into a stap ehe tap e d ss dawn upo nd th n n fro o the p n er 1% n he, att Pus e the s aple a a ns the ne eble ie en th ta e8, h s he swineng h n s f. he stap e ha k te te h reum h the x d the 71 th tlehch h B- eration thus being consummated and the longi ud na and t ns e e Wi es bein tehled together at their point pf IQQLQISBCQQD:

Ha g thu d sttlht l he rev nues what is claimed is 1- In a ach ne r makin was febr e ppe stru ture; a haft l e -ha ed h re n a hevlng a ahka, as a es re ry sha t j u a e n he s ppe ttng etu e t re; a meas ing whee n t e a iliary sha t; a dr s a i rne ed 111 the su port-m r ture; a d um os n he drum haft; means for onn t ng he drum with the drum sha or re t ca heteen at er r0- ta o t e h; l tc meeham ia eacting wi h th aux iary shaft; a e n i tttus rod operati ely onne t d with he c tch mechanism; e pp movable n the crank; means fo adj t ng he p st n 0 th suppor on the cr nk; and mea s. f r eneretive y n ing h suppo t with he eenneeting rod.

2. In a machine for making wire fabr c, a supp ing stru ure; a mam s aft learna e the ein a ha ns a rank; an atr a iary s af i na ed n he pp vt g struct e; a m a r n wh el on the anzshe y shaft; a ratche Wh fixe to. the unha y shaft; a drum journaled on the aux liary h ft; a P u 1 e dr m and, eo etm wit h atchet W el; a weet i g ed p oted to he r m; e l ppert sl lahlem the a k; means r aditt t ug th n stien of h upp t w h re p ct e t e crank; nd me s for un i g he shpner epe atively with the com ecting rod,

3. In a ma h r mak ng c t ame, a supp r tug tructure; a drum shaft Jee a ed there a um leese en the awn shaft; a nut t r ad the drum haft and d pted ta exe t pre su e against the stem the nut being provided with a prO e t n; an a uati g mem er serrated t9 sie with respec tov h protection and attes d to move into and out of engagement wlth the projection; and means for actuating the shaft.

4. In a device of the class described, a supporting structure; a drum shaft journaled therein; a drum rotatable upon the drum shaft and rotatable with the drum shaft; an auxiliary shaft journaled in the supporting structure; a measuring wheel on the auxiliary shaft; a gear train operatively connecting the drum shaft with the auxiliary shaft; and means for imparting a step-by-step rotation to the auxiliary shaft- 5. In a machine for making wire fabric consisting of longitudinal wires, transverse Wires and staples connecting the wires, a supporting structure; a main shaft journaled in the supporting structure; a cutter shaft adapted to coact with the transverse wires; means for intermittently rotating the cutter shaft from the main shaft; mechanism for advancing the longitudinal wires; means for driving said mechanism intermittently from the main shaft; a combined taple forming and. clenching mechanism; and means for operatively connecting the forming and clenching mechanism operatively with the main shaft; the staple forming and clenching mechanism being timed to act alternately with the mechanism for advancing the longitudinal wires.

6. In a machine for making Wire fabric comprising longitudinal and transverse wires, a supporting structure; a main shaft journaled in the supporting structure; a cut- W1 shaft adapted to coact with the transverse wires; means for intermittently rotating the cutter shaft from the main shaft; mechanism for advancing the longitudinal wires; and means for intermittently driving said mechanism from the main shaft.

7. In a machine for making Wire fabric consisting of longitudinal Wires, transverse wires and staples connecting the wires, a suppor ing str c r a main shaft journaled il the supporting structure; mechanism for advancing the longitudinal wires; mean for intermittently driving said mechanism from the main shaft; a combined Staple forming and clenching mechanism; and means for operatively connecting the staple forming and clenching mechanism with the main shaft.

8 In a machine for making wire fabric, a cutter shaft; a ratchet wheel thereon; a lever mounted to swing adjacent the cutter shaft; a pawl on the lever and adapted to engage the ratchet wheel; a link pivoted to the lever; pinion supported for rotation and provided with a shoe, the pinion being connected with the link; a disk supported for rotation and adapted to engage the shoe, the disk including a continuous pinion and e mu ated pi ion, th mu late pi n being adapted to mesh with the first specified pinion; an idler with which the continuous pinion meshes; a drive shaft; and a gear wheel on the drive shaft meshing into the idler.

9. In a machine for making wire fabric, staple forming and clenching mechanism embodying a supporting structure; a wire feeding means; a movable table; mechanism carried by the movable table for actuating the feeding means; a former actuated by the table and including a part coacting with the wire to cut the wire to a predetermined length; a shaper fixed with respect to the supporting structure and coacting with the former to fashion the severed wire into a staple; a second movable table; a die thereon; a plunger connected with the first specified table and constituting means for advancing the staple against the die; a die fixed on the supporting structure; and means for actuating the second table to cause the dies to coact in clenching the staple.

10. In a machine for making wire fabric, staple forming and clenching mechanism including a supporting structure; a wire feeding means; a movable table; mechanism carried by the table for actuating the feeding means; a former actuated by the table and including a part coacting with the wire to cut the wire to a predetermined length; a shaper fixed with respect to the supporting structure and coacting with the former to fashion the severed wire into a staple; a second movable table; a die thereon; and a plunger connected with the first specified table and constituting means for advancing the staple against the die.

11. In a machine for making wire fabric, staple forming and clenching mechanism embodying a supporting structure; a movable table; a former actuated by the table and including a part coacting with the staple wire to cut the same into a predetermined length; a shaper fixed with respect to the supporting structure and coacting with the former to fashion the severed wire into a staple; a second movable table; a die thereon; a plunger connected with the first specified table and constituting means for advancing the staple against the die; a die fixed on the supporting structure; and means for moving the second table for causing the dies to coact in clenching the staple.

12. In a machine for making wire fabric, staple forming and clenching mechanism including a supporting structure; a movable table; a former actuated by the table and including a part coacting with the staple wire to cut the same to a predetermined length; a shaper fixed with respect to the supporting structure and coacting with the former to fashion the severed wire into a staple; a second movable table; a die thereon; and a plunger connected with the first specified table and constituting means for advancing the staple against the die.

13. In a machine for making wire fabric, a staple forming mechanism embodying a supporting structure; a table movable thereon; a staple former connected with the table; a staple wire feeding means; and a driving element operatively connected with the feeding means; said element being loosely connected with the table to permit the table to retract the former before the driving element is actuated by the table.

14. In a machine for making wire fabric; staple forming mechanism embodying a supporting structure; a table movable thereon; a staple former connected with the table and including a staple wire cutting means; a staple wire feeding means; and a driving element operatively connected with the feeding means, said element being loosely connected with the table to permit the table to retract the former and the cutting means before the driving element is actuated by the table.

15. In a machine for making wire fabric, staple forming mechanism including a supporting structure; a feed wheel journaled thereon; a pinion journaled on the supporting structure; pawl and ratchet mechanism operatively connecting the feed wheel and the pinion; a rack-bar meshing into the pinion; a table mounted to slide on the supporting structure and loosely connected with the rack-bar to permit the table to move for a time independently of the rackbar; and a staple former operatively connected with the table.

16. In a machine for making wire fabric, staple forming mechanism embodying a supporting structure; a feed wheel journaled thereon; a pinion operatively connected with the feed wheel; a rack-bar meshing into the pinion; a table mounted to slide on the supporting structure and loosely connected with the rack-bar to permit the table to move for a time independently of the rack-bar; and a staple former operatively connected with the table.

17. In a machine for making wire fabric, staple forming mechanism embodying a supporting structure; a shaper fixed with respect to the supporting structure; a table movable on the supporting structure; a former connected with the table and coacting with the shaper; fixed staple engaging means operative when the former and the table are retracted; and a staplefeed plunger connected with the table and adapted to engage the staple subsequent to the engagement of said fixed means with the staple.

18. In a machine for making wire fabric, a Wire feed embodying a pair of coacting feed wheels; intermeshing pinions; pawl as my own, I have hereto aifixed my signaand. ratchet mechanisms operatively conture in the presence of two Witnesses.

necting the pinions With the respective feed Wheels; and a rack bar into which one GEORGE HOLMES COCKS 5 pinion meshes, the other pinion being inde- Witnesses:

pendent of the rack bar. ALEX POUGE,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing JOHN M. HOPKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. 

